Vol. 2 2009

KELSO-KURRENTSA P o w e r f u l P a s t . A B r i l l i a n t F u t u r e . S i n c e 1 9 0 8

In This Issue• Spotlight Project• Around Chicago• K-B Sparks• Featured Employee

K E L S O - B U R N E T T C O .

Last week we held Kelso-Burnett’s annual employee meeting. At

these meetings, we discuss the previous year’s results and our plans

for the coming year. Since we were starting our second century in

business, I thought that it would be an ideal time to reinforce the

foundation of best business practices our company was built on.

Foremost of these is our commitment to always conduct business

in an ethical manner—in our everyday dealings with each other,

as well as with our customers and suppliers.

I invited Dr. David Ozar, head

of Loyola University’s ethics

department, to be our featured

speaker and discuss the

importance of dedicating

ourselves to ethical practices

as we conduct our day-to-day

business. Dr. Ozar’s presentation was especially meaningful in light

of how many examples we are seeing of businesspeople who have

allowed greed to override fundamental

ethical business practices. Suddenly,

capitalism is being viewed as a corrupt

system, while in truth, any system can

be corrupt if the people in control are

making unethical decisions.

Even in these most difficult economic

times, it is imperative that we continue

to hold ourselves to the highest ethical

standards in our industry and never

compromise honesty and integrity in the pursuit of a dollar. It’s quite

evident that companies embracing unethical practices have short life

spans. As we begin our second century, let us continue to hold

ourselves to the same high ethical standards we dedicated ourselves

to when we began our first.

—Brad Weir, President

Ethics

Over the course of Kelso-Burnett’s 100-year existence, many employees have shown a great deal of pride in what our company stands for. Throughout our entire company, thereare employees who have displayed their dedication to Kelso-Burnett by choosing to remainemployed by Kelso rather than pursuing different endeavors. In fact, there are severalemployees who have witnessed a great many of Kelso’s finest moments in history.

Jim Kostek, CEO of Kelso-Burnett, has been with the company for 37 years. Brad Weir,who is the current President, has been with Kelso for 34 years. Greg Montalbano, one ofour electricians, has been with K-B for 40 years, followed by Gordie Persha and Dennis Battain, who have both been part ofKelso for 35 years. We would like to congratulate these longtime employees on their successes and contributions to makingKelso-Burnett Co. the outstanding company it is today.

K-B Milestones

Kelso-Burnett Co. recently wrapped up its part of a project that

will have millions of packages zooming across the world. Kelso-

Burnett was part of the team that constructed the new FedEx

Ground shipping hub at Bedford Park, the largest FedEx facility

in the world. The new hub is replacing the existing facility, located

at a site next door. The old shipping center was a jumble of

buildings and conveyor systems, each added on whenever

additional capacity was needed. The new 880,000-square-foot

space, which houses 243 dock doors and almost nine miles of

conveyors, will offer more room and greater efficiency.

With HK Systems’ Hebron, Kentucky office managing the project,

Kelso-Burnett led the electrical install. Our professionals dedicated

themselves to the task of providing power to the huge space, filled

with conveyors and controls that demanded precision. The Kelso-

Burnett team, guided by General Foreman Dan Baumeister and

Foremen Dan Pfeiffer, Larry Paha and Bob Gonzales, installed

six 1,200 A conveyor distribution panels, feeding 23 motor control

panels. It also powered over 470 motors, 3,000 control devices

and set up five different communication systems. Overall, the

project required

1.4 million feet

of wire—enough

to stretch 250 miles.

There were virtually

no problems over

the 35,000 man-

hours needed to

complete the electrical install. Kelso-Burnett has worked on three

other major FedEx Ground projects in the past five years, as well

as some FedEx Home projects. The team was able to apply its

insight and familiarity with FedEx to keep the Bedford Park

facility project moving smoothly in spite of its immense scale.

The new FedEx Ground Bedford Park hub is scheduled to be

completed this May. Thank you to FedEx and HK Systems for

giving us the opportunity to work in this amazing facility. We

will give a cheer for the first packages that roll down the miles

of expertly electrified conveyors!

KELSO-KURRENTS

K-B Wires the Largest FedEx Facility in the World

Spotlight Project

Although fire pump testing seems like such an easy concept, it’s

not just a matter of turning on a pump to see if it works. There’s

a lot more to it than that—and that “more to it” starts very early

in the morning.

Most pump tests in Chicago high-rise buildings begin at 5 a.m.,

so this alone is a challenge. When testing is taking place, we

connect one end of a 2 1/2" fire hose to the fire pump test header

and place the other end outside the building. If we are testing a

building that is over seven stories tall, the discharge end must be

on the roof. As you can probably guess, conducting a roof shot

on a 70- to 90-story Chicago building is the fun part of our job!

We schedule all tests with the Chicago fire pump inspector, and

when the inspector arrives, we turn on the fire pump and let it run

to 150 percent of its capacity. We then measure volts, amps and

RPMs at the fire pump controller and fire pump. We take flow

meter readings on the roof where the water is being discharged.

The city inspector witnesses the test and signs off that the pump

operates to the city’s specifications. We record all of our findings

and give them to our

professional engineer,

who calculates the

operating condition

of the pump and sends

the full report to the

owner of the building.

Contech formed its fire pump testing division in 2001, adding

this service to the fire alarm inspection services that we’ve been

performing for over 30 years. In that relatively short period of

time, we have developed great relationships with our customers

and the city fire pump inspectors, and we have become one of

the most trusted, reliable fire pump testing companies in the

Chicago area. We have our fire pump testing crew—Terry Till,

Vince Staszak and Tony Mika—to thank for the great success

we’ve had with our fire pump testing division.

—Bryan Nordlund, Branch Manager of Contech MSI Co.

Fire Pump Testing Capabilities Conducted by Contech MSI Co.

KELSO-KURRENTS

Featured Employee—Joe Truesdale

Joe Truesdale will be retiring from Kelso-Burnett towards the end of the 2009 year, and needless

to say, Joe’s journey has been pretty remarkable. Joe has been a member of the Kelso-Burnett Co.

team for the past 11 years, working as a Division Manager out of Kelso’s Loop (Chicago) office.

Although his career at Kelso-Burnett has been quite impressive, Joe has had an even more

impressive past.

Joe is a 43-year member of IBEW Local 134, and during those 43 years, he has continued to educate himself in his field.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with Honors from Illinois Institute of Technology. He has

completed programs such as a Dale Carnegie course in management and adult education courses for journeyman wiremen in HVAC

control, instrumentation and electronics. He has also taken courses from DeVry Institute in radio and TV and holds an FCC license.

With this expertise, it is no surprise that Joe is the Supervising Electrician for our City of Chicago Electrical License. Joe has also

continued his studies outside the electrical field. In 2007, Joe graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a Master of Arts

in Pastoral Studies.

Over his nearly half a century of service to the electrical industry, Joe has taken on many roles. He has been a Project Manager for

Fishbach & Moore, JWP Gibson and Nesko Electric. He has supervised projects for BT Americas, the Argonne ISSF Facility and

others. In addition, he held the position of Vice President with the duties to maintain the electrical systems at Continental Bank

(now Bank of America). Currently, Joe is a Senior Division Manager for Kelso-Burnett. His project experience is vast and includes

changing residential utility services, automobile assembly lines, steel manufacturing roll mills, computer rooms, fire alarm and

security systems, tenant build-outs and high-rise construction.

In addition to Joe’s position at Kelso-Burnett, he was ordained in 2003 to the Order of Deacon in the Catholic Church and serves

in the parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Orland Park. He is also a member of the Archdiocese of Chicago Diaconate Council as the

Vicariate Diaconate Coordinator for Vicariate V. Joe and his wife, Mary, live in Orland Park. Joe and Mary have three children,

Tracey, Brian and Tim, and their eighth grandchild is expected in June.

Terry TillCongratulations to Terry Till, who is

the new Inspection Division Manager

for Contech MSI Co. out of the Rolling

Meadows office.

K-B Sparks–Congratulations to all Kelso-Burnett team members!

Shannon BurtonCongratulations to Shannon Burton and her

husband for becoming proud parents of a baby girl

on March 26, 2009. Shannon is a Corporate Office

Manager for Kelso-Burnett and works out of the

Rolling Meadows office.

Tony MikaTony Mika, out of the Rolling Meadows office,

is the new Fire Pump Testing Technician for

Contech MSI Co. He will be teaming up with

Vince Staszak, who currently is the Fire Pump

Electrician for Contech.

How did you come to work at Kelso-Burnett?

In 1994, I made a decision to go back to working as anelectrician. But after a summer at the Ford Assembly Plant,when the indoor temperature rose to over 100 degrees, anda winter at the new Acme Steel Roll Mill being constructed in Riverdale, when the temperatures dipped to a -45-degreewindchill, I realized that perhaps an office provided a betterenvironment. I was talking to a friend of mine, Arnie Lemke,who was a Project Manger for Kelso-Burnett, and he said theLoop office was looking for two Project Managers. Kelso hasalways had an excellent reputation, and I interviewed with Brad Weir, our current President, who was the Chicago BranchManager at the time. I was hired. There are those who have not forgiven Brad. And that is how I came to Kelso.

What one thing do you like most about your job?

The opportunities to demonstrate the quality work thatour company does.

What was your favorite Kelso-Burnett project that you’vebeen involved with?

Our current project that is nearing completion at the LakesideTechnology Center. It is a major infrastructure project forcomputer suites. The project includes six 2-megawattgenerators at 12KV, 12KV distribution, unit substations,multiple UPS systems and 480-volt distribution.

What three words would others use to describe you?

I would like to say “handsome,” “intelligent” and “humble,”but too many others would correct me. So I have to admit that I need to work on the humble part since that is what keeps mefrom being perfect.

What is your all-time favorite line from a movie?

From Gone with the Wind: “I don’t want to think about thattoday; I’ll think about that tomorrow.”

How do you plan to spend your free time?

Since I’m a Deacon in the Catholic Church (let’s not talk about item 4 above), and there is such a shortage of priests,I plan to spend more time in ministry in my home parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Orland Park.

What is your favorite memory looking back on your time with Kelso-Burnett Co.?

The Kelso-Burnett family of co-workers, from the people in ouroffices to the electricians, all of whom labor each day to makeus the best electrical contractor that our clients can depend onfor workmanship and value.

5-Year Service AwardCongratulations to Rich Elk, Kip Armstrong and

Gordon Kleber, who are all Division Managers,

as well as to Office Manager and Field Coordinator

Evelyn Prothero for receiving 5-Year Service Awards

for their time with Kelso-Burnett. They all currently

work out of the Rockford office.

20-Year Service AwardCongratulations to Cheryl Stare, Office Coordinator

out of Kelso-Burnett’s Lake County office, for

receiving the 20-Year Service Award. Her 20th

Anniversary with Kelso-Burnett Co. occurs this July.

Seven Questions—Joe Truesdale

Jeff WeirCongratulations to Jeff Weir, Division

Manager of the Rolling Meadows office,

for being crowned as Kelso-Burnett’s Contract

Manager of the Year for 2008. Some of Jeff’s

notable projects during this time are the Poplar

Creek Public Library, various upgrades for

Allstate Insurance Company, upgrades and

renovations for United Airlines, renovations

for Northwestern University, and many others.

Around Chicago

This regular feature showcases unique entertainment and exciting things to do in the Chicago area.

Taste of Randolph Street

This year’s Taste of Randolph Street will take place Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21, in Chicago’s

Randolph Street corridor. Located in the neighborhood that is home to many of Chicago’s trendiest art

galleries and nightclubs, this popular West Loop festival will feature popular live entertainment, beverage

concessions, food from neighborhood restaurants, and showcases of art and world-market vendors. There

is a suggested donation of $10 for all attendees; all proceeds go to the West Loop Community Organization.

The family-friendly Taste of Randolph Street festival is a great way to kick off the summer festivities.

51st Annual Chicago Air & Water Show

From August 15 through August 16, 2009, Chicago’s North Avenue Beach will be hosting the 51st Annual

Chicago Air & Water Show. Started in 1959, the Chicago Air & Water Show has grown into the oldest and

largest free-admission exhibition of its kind, averaging 2.2 million spectators annually. In fact, it is the

largest spectator event in the U.S. and the longest ongoing show of its kind in North America. Over the

years, the show has become a summer tradition, showcasing daredevil thrills in the air, as well as on

the water along Chicago’s magnificent lakefront.

K-B Matching Contribution ProgramKelso-Burnett Co. has always been an active charitable contributor.

To further enhance the company’s ability to give back to the

community, past President and current CEO Jim Kostek created

a Charitable Matching Contribution Plan for Kelso-Burnett

employees. With this plan, Kelso-Burnett Co. will match the

charitable contributions of its non-bargaining unit employees to the

charity of their choice—up to $250 per employee per year. A major

highlight of the program is that any organization is eligible for the

program as long as it is qualified by the IRS under section 501(c)(3).

Over the years, many Kelso employees participated in the Charitable

Matching Contribution Plan and have donated to a wide range of

deserving causes, including Boys & Girls Club Associations, United

Way, Chicago Youth Centers, Salvation Army, Illinois Special

Olympics, Guild for the Blind, Alzheimer’s Association, food pantry

organizations, shelters and refuge homes, scholarship institutions, and

many more charities in multiple townships. Says Margi Forss out of

Kelso-Burnett’s Rockford office, “I’m proud to work for a company

that is willing to help the community in this way, and I don’t mind

bragging about it once in a while.”

Just recently, Margi used the Matching Program for the Rock River

Food Pantry in her Rockford community. Currently, Rockford has the

highest unemployment rate in Illinois at over 14 percent. With more

needy people than in any time in recent memory, the food pantry’s

resources are stretched to the breaking point. Margi explained,

“This isn’t just kids not being able to get toys at Christmas. This

is kids and families in need of food to survive on a daily basis. In

Rockford, 25 percent more families this year than the previous year

will need food from the pantry. That’s 182 new families needing food

to survive this year!” Although Rockford’s economic situation is grim,

Margi’s contributions, along with the matched contributions by Kelso-

Burnett, have benefited and will continue to benefit those families in

need of food.

Many issues like this exist all over the country and world, which is

why anyone who can afford to give should consider making a

donation. Just giving some pocket change for one week would make

a noticeable difference. There are many people who can benefit even

from the smallest of contributions, and contributions are needed now

more than ever. For all future donations, make sure to check and see

if your employer has a matching contribution plan like Kelso-

Burnett’s in order to get more of a bang for your donated buck.

K E L S O - B U R N E T T C O .

Chicago • Rolling Meadows

Rockford • Gurnee

__________________________

Kelso-Burnett Co. Headquarters

5200 Newport Drive

Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

__________________________

(847) 259-0720

www.kelso-burnett.com

K E L S O - B U R N E T T C O .Electrical Construction • Voice & Data Communication • Life Safety

We are an employee-owned company that

combines advanced technologies with

superior workmanship to provide the

highest-quality design, construction and

project management available in the

electrical contracting industry.

Since 1908

The safety department

at Kelso-Burnett

offers OSHA 10-

and 30-hour classes. For more information or

to schedule a class, contact Scott Johnson at

(847) 483-3826 or Cathy Kay at (847) 483-3827.

NFPA 70E Training

Kelso-Burnett continues to train

employees and clients on the

NFPA 70E requirements. Only

an employee who is certified as an “Electrically

Qualified Worker” may approach and work on live

systems. He or she must also utilize an Energized

Work Permit. Contact Cathy Kay at (847) 483-3827

if you would like to schedule a training session.